2009 Topps Chrome Gold Refractor Stephen Curry ROOKE /50 #101 BGS 9 MINT

In the 15 years before the Golden State Warriors drafted Stephen Curry, they had suffered through 13 losing seasons and made the postseason one time. If there was a team in need of a catalyst to lead a renaissance, it was the Warriors. As team after team selected guards in the 2009 NBA Draft, Golden State executives kept sweating, hoping the fresh-faced shooting sensation from Davidson would remain on the board until the seventh pick. The Warriors were already among the youngest teams in the NBA and drafting an impact player was crucial to their future success. As a new season began, the message to Curry was clear: set the court ablaze. It may not have been immediately evident, but by picking Curry, the Warriors struck gold, and one collector will do the same in month’s Premier Auction. Curry may not present the gruffest of exteriors on his 2009 Topps Chrome /50 Gold Refractor rookie card, but what you cannot see is that the innocent 21-year-old has a competitive spirit inside of him that is rivaled by few. With 166 3-pointers as a rookie, he broke the NBA’s rookie record, delighting a starved fan base, but the Warriors were still 30 games below .500. It was obvious Curry was dynamic, but could management surround him with the talent necessary to move up the standings? Slowly but surely, more stars were folded into the mix and in Curry’s fourth season, the team took off and returned to the playoffs. After getting his feet wet in the 2013 and ‘14 postseasons, Curry was roaring with confidence as he led the Warriors to three championships in four seasons from 2015 to ‘18. His consummate MVP-level performances etched his place in NBA history, and he made even deeper cuts in the ensuing years as he became the all-time career leader in 3-pointers and won a fourth championship in 2022. Now entering his 14th season at age 34, the two-time MVP still has plenty of time to make more magic moments. Meanwhile, collectors will be wishing they had a magic spell to help ward off the frenzy of bidders who will descend upon this auction. As it is, only one collector will set the bidding ablaze all the way to end of the extended session—do you have what it takes to keep from flaming out?